By KT Reporter
Authorities in Amuru district have issued directives for the immediate closure of all unhygienic facilities at Elegu Town Council at the Uganda-South Sudan border point amidst a surge in cases of Cholera.
Health Officials over the weekend revealed the cumulative Cholera cases (suspected, probable and confirmed cases had risen to 63 since a suspected case was first registered on July 1 in Loriko West village. 47 of them are cumulative Cholera Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) positive cases, out of which eight are children below 12 years.
Geoffrey Osborn Oceng, the Amuru Resident District Commissioner told Uganda Radio Network over the weekend that poor sanitation remains a major challenge weighing down the effective fight against the disease in Elegi Town Council.
Oceng noted that the problem is exacerbated by the low latrine coverage amidst a high population, which has seen people still practicing open defecation leading to contamination of water sources.
According to him, the town council officials at Elegu and the District Health Inspector have since been directed to start closing down all facilities that don’t meet standard health requirements and poses risks of increasing cholera spread.
He also pointed that the limited number of health workers at Bibia Health Center III is affecting effective handling of the patients being referred for medical treatment adding that the Chief Administrative Officer has been notified to reinforce the staff level.
Robert Onekalit, the District Surveillance Focal Person in a July 10 cholera situation report attributed the rise in the cases to a number of factors among them poor waste management, and cross border business activities. Others he noted were due to the high congestion at Elegu Town council housing units and failure by private health facilities to report to health authorities of the suspected cases.
Onekalit highlighted the gaps affecting the effective fight against cholera citing limited fund to support community engagement activities and outreaches and knowledge gap among the community members to enhance early community detection and referrals.
So far the Rapid Response Team (RRT) has held meetings with private clinics and drug shop owners operating in Elegu Town Council and sensitized over 200 restaurant owners mostly women in Pabbo Subcounty about cholera.
John Idra kovuki, the LCIII Chairperson of Elegu Town Council has however called on for the urgent intervention of the government to curb the situation that may soon spiral out of hand. Kovuki said the state sanitation is alarming within the town council, a factor that could further escalate the cases of cholera if not addressed.
According to him, the Town Council leadership is set to hold an engagement with school head teachers, local leaders, and religious leaders within Elegu Town Council to come out with a comprehensive approach to combatting not only waste but spread of cholera.
By July 10, a total of 30 households had been visited by health officials in Elegu Town Council and 72 contacts listed within the district. Currently, four people remain admitted for treatment at the Isolation unit at Bibia Health Center III-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
